Oils for the Syncro Transaxle and Differential

Recommended Oils:

VW Synthetic Oil (80w GL-4)Transaxleand Front Diff.

OR

Swepco 210 (80w-140 GL-5) in theTransaxle and Front Diffferential

Transaxle Capacity:

4.5 litres Total Capacity

4 litres on Refill = 4.205 US Quarts on Refill

(1/2 litre cannot be drained.)

Front Differential Capacity:

1.5 litres = 1.605 US Quarts

DO NOT use REDLINE in the transaxleWe used to recommend Redline oil for the transaxle based on the advice of Redline techs and on the adivce of rebuilders. Redline has since changed its formulation (removing zinc compounds) and the rebuilders have concluded that Redline use now contributes to premature ring and pinion failure, especially if you have an engine with more power and torque than stock. Thus, it is recommended that Redline not be used in the transaxle.

GL-4 or GL-5? VW advises that a GL-4 be used in the transaxle. The reason for this is that the additives in some GL-5 oils can be corrosive to the synchros and other transaxle parts. That used to be truer back when the syncro was still in production twenty-some years ago. Today, there are a number of GL-5s that are safe for the transaxle. Swepco 210 is one example.